Mugu houses ransacked by looters
The villagers had departed from their homes to traverse the highland meadows in pursuit of the precious herb, yarshagumba.
KATHMANDU: In the remote village of Dolphu in Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality-1, situated in the Mugu district, a group of marauding looters took advantage of the absence of villagers on Saturday to carry out a brazen raid.
The villagers had departed from their homes to traverse the highland meadows in pursuit of the precious herb, yarshagumba.
According to Chhiring Kyapne Lama, Chair of Karmarong Rural Municipality, armed looters pillaged homes, making off with cash, jewelry, and various other valuables. “With only the elderly and children left in the village, the armed gang seized the opportunity,” he lamented. Out of 50 houses, assets from 23 were plundered, with reports even indicating violence against a shrine’s priest.
The looters showed no mercy, even attacking the dogs guarding the homes.
Responding swiftly to the distress call, a police team was dispatched from Pulu police post, a challenging five-hour trek away.
Mugum Karmarong-1 Chair Tunduk Lama had alerted the authorities about the rampant looting, describing the assailants as armed with guns, scimitars, and khukuris. Their loot included jewelry, ancient artifacts, medicinal herbs, and clothing.
However, Deputy Superintendent of Police Birendra Thapa highlighted the difficulties faced due to the lack of communication access at the incident site, hampering efforts to coordinate with the deployed police personnel.
Ward numbers 1, 3, and 4 of Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality are situated within the confines of Tse Phoksundo National Park.
Following local-level authorization to collect yarshagumba for the season, villagers had vacated their homes since May 23.
